Biotin/hoof supplement comparison

[Casey76]

So what, in your opinion, is your best/favourite hoof supplement?

Pinto's feet aren't growing very quickly, and the quality of horn he has got (atm) isn't the best.

He's had 15 days on a Swiss biotin supplement (Frey) which was horrendously expensive (£45 for 1 kg), and as I was in the UK last week I bought some NAF biotin (only £20 for 3kg :rolleyes: )

Anyone else have any reccomendations?

[Holly B]

I've never used any hoof supplements myself, but a lot of people like Farrier's Formula. You could also try the Cornucrescine supplement. Have you tried anything that actually goes onto the hoof? Most things are a waste of time and money, but Keratex Hoof Hardener and Cornucrescine hoof dressing are meant to be very good. :)

[Jessey]

To see any benifit from a feed suplement you will need to feed it for at the very least 6 months, and the new hoof containing the suplement wont be down to the floor (ie the bit that normally chips and cracks) for about a year.

I would definatly recomend Farriers Formula, it great, I also use Keratex Hoof Hardner which really helps straight away (well within a couple of weeks).

J x

[MelanieD]

I've fed NAF Biotin before and it seemed to do something, produced a nice big thick growth ring anyway. Any supplement affects the new horn so takes months for it to reach ground level. Keratex hoof hardener may help if the quality of horn at the ground isn't good. Best thing I've found for hoof growth and quality is being barefoot but I guess that doesn't count as a supplement :D

[Casey76]

Thanks for all your replies. :)

Unfortunately in Switzerland and in France it is very difficult to find anything like a decent choice of supplements (or even feeds for that matter).

I bought the NAF biotin when I was in the UK, and prayed I wouldn't get stopped by customs when I got back to Switzerland.

I can't get Farriers Formula, though there is a Swiss contact for Formula4Feet... in Geneva.

Ideally I would like Pinto to be barefoot, however there are no trimmers in the surrounding vicinity, and although the farrier will trim an unshod horse, it is a pasture trim (and funnily enough 2 horses which he does trim on the yard have badly flared hooves)... and I certainly don't know enough about correct hoof structure to do it on my own. Not that I can get Ketarex anything, let alone something like CleanTrax :rolleyes:

[Holly B]

So is your main problem actually getting the supplements to France/Switzerland? If so, big companies like Robinson's Country Leisure and Rideaway deliver all over Europe, though you'd have to pay quite a bit for postage. Their prices for their products are generally pretty good though. Postage is around £15 to France, but you could order quite a lot of the supplement/ hoof dressing you wanted all in the same order. If it is a feed supplement that you don't think would go off quickly, you could order a 6-month or year's supply all at once which wouldn't be too expensive as it would still cost £15 postage. Same with if you order Keratex hoof hardener or something. Only problem is if you order a lot on your first order then find it doesn't work for your horse! If you're interested in doing this, I would get in touch with them (they both have websites) to find out a delivery price to where you are. :)

[Santi]

Hi,
i have used 'Formula Feet' (i think thats different to 'formula4feet') and thought it was really good, both of their coats also got very shiny too which was nice! The horse with bad feet is getting better horn although i thought it takes 8-9 months for a whole hoof to grow through. It isn't cheap but the horses loved it and i fed it to them as a treat!
I have only used it for a few months and i just ran out but i will order some more.
- Caroline.

[KarinUS]

I read somewhere that any supplement with more than 20g (or is it mg?) per day is a waste because the excess will just be eliminated rather than being used. Zinc as a component also seems to be beneficial.
I used to use hoof supplements but based it more on the ingredients rather than the brand.
Like MelanieD, the most notable change actually occured when we went barefoot. At this point he doesn't get any hoof supplements anymore- unless flax counts?- and has fantastic feet

[MelanieD]

I've been playing with supplements a bit recently and found that NAF biotin combined with Feel Good 30 joint supplement (glucosamine, MSM and some other stuff) does very good things for feet. When our grass stopped growing so did madam's feet, but these supplements got them going better than ever. But then after looking into things a bit more I realised that fatty's diet was too low in protein because she had a mix suitable for fatties and can't have alfalfa and stay sane, so adding something high in protein or a balancer would have helped just as much. Still think barefoot is the best thing ever for making feet grow but diet is very important as well.

It's 15-20mg of biotin a day that's recommended, there are a few other things in most hoof supplements that are very important, zinc is one of them.

[LouHarvey]

I swear by Biotin and feed it to both of my cobs, they both came to me with appalling feet and would keep shoes for a maximum of three weeks, now they can go for a full eight weeks (six weeks in showing season) without any worries about losing shoes. Biotin is cost effective and easy to feed and really does make a difference.

Don't forget that your farrier/grass/hay quality also contribute to hoof condition, my farrier is wonderful and I am quite lucky with grass and hay, it all helps. I hope you find something to help your boy!

[~Perdita.M~]

I feed formula 4 feet. Haven't been using it long enough to comment yet though, just started on the second tub yesterday. Am keeping everything crossed it works.

[Sammii]

I use NAF Biotin and have been pleased to realise a great deal of improvement in his feet recently. I do recommend it but then again i'm sure all works same just depends on the situation and the horse himself :)